From the department of “Aw, sad panda” comes this element regarding Wolves forward Michael Beasley. Beasley had organized a charity event in Minnesota, billing it as the “All-Star Classic,” promoting it as including Kevin Durant and Kevin Love along with John Wall and No.2 overall Timberwolves pick Derrick Williams.

One problem.

They didn’t show.

From the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:

Organizers originally priced tickets at between $60 and $300, then changed them to $40 general admission, $100 for VIP reserve and $300 for court seats when it became clear Durant, Love, Wall and No. 2 overall pick Derrick Williams wouldn’t play.

Net proceeds will go to St. Jude’s and three Twin Cities area charities.

Organizers estimated the audience at 1,200 fans, which might have been a bit generous. Those fans watched the six Wolves players, Golden State’s Wright, former WNBA player Tamara Moore and a smattering of summer-league players run and shoot until the Beasleys prevailed over the Visitors 179-170.

You know what, though? Beasley can’t direct those kinds of things. He can’t make those guys play. And the Minnesota fans at least got to see most of the Wolves play. Granted, not Williams, Love, Williams or Rubio, four starters, but still. And it’s for charity. Any effort counts. So it would be easy to dig at Beasley for not being able to deliver, but he made the effort to put together a basketball game for charity.

Metta took some steps to bring World Peace on Wednesday by donating $285,000 to mental health charities across America.

He has pledged to give away more than $500,000 that he raised by raffling off his 2010 Lakers championship ring.

At the Grammy Museum at L.A. Live, before handing giant checks to six women who represented various organizations, World Peace briefly discussed his own struggles with mental health.

“When I was a kid, I did see a counselor,” he said. “My mom helped me out, she realized I was having problems when I was 13 years old. She realized I was going through a lot.”

Personally, I never get tired of hearing about Mr. World Peace’s dedication to the mental health of our nation’s children — it’s a true redemption story for a man who used to be sports’ #1 villain, and Metta’s cause is definitely worth giving time and attention to. Congratulations, Mr. World Peace. You have, against all odds, become a role model who changed his name to Metta World Peace.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of “Zo’s Summer Groove,” an annual massive charity weekend held in Miami, started by Alonzo Mourning. Of the incredible number of charity works put on by NBA players and their reps (and no kidding, for every arrest or stupid thing a player says there are about seventeen great charity events put on by players, almost none of which get any attention), Summer Groove stands out not only for the breadth of events and the level of community involvement, but for the sheer amount of cash that’s raised for various organizations both locally and on the national level. In short, it’s a pretty great thing.

For the last several years, Dwyane Wade has co-headlined the event, and his name being plastered on it has made the event even bigger. Both sponsorship money and interest obviously spikes with Wade’s name plastered on the event. It was a smart move by Mourning and the event’s promoters to put Wade as the headliner to cash in on his status as a current All-Star.

But that won’t be happening this year. Wade’s name is off the event and the website simply lists it as “Zo’s Summer Groove” once again. Why? The stupid freaking lockout.

Our own Ira Winderman said in an email that the reason Wade’s name has been taken off is because Mourning is a Heat executive, and during a lockout, players and executives aren’t allowed any contact. Even in a situation like this, which helps thousands of kids and families in need, providing a highlight of young people’s lives, a disagreement between billionaires and millionaires over how many millions should be divied up where and how will be the deciding factor.

Mourning recently told local NBC affiliate in Miami channel 6 that Wade will be involved in the event, he’s just not headlining. Which basically means the promoters will have to make sure Wade and Mourning don’t interact at the same event.

Honestly, this is just ridiculous.It’s not like Mourning’s going to be handing over the strategy of the owners to Wade (or that he’s going to know of said strategy, or that they have a strategy beyond throwing tantrums and saying “No! Give us more money you earn for us!”). And it’s not like Wade’s going to try and subvert anything for either side through conversations. This is one of the best charity events in the country involving an NBA player and it’s getting ruined over a lockout after one of the most successful seasons in NBA history.

We’re lost in the weeds, people, and the cost of this lockout goes well beyond the trips to Vegas the players have had to cancel.

Ron Artest, who once jumped into the stands and got suspended for a full season, and Dwight Howard, who currently leads the league in technical fouls, are both finalists for the Walter J. Kennedy Citizenship award. The award is given each year to an NBA figure who shows “outstanding service and dedication to the community.” Kyle Korver and Marcus Camby are the other two finalists for the award.

Artest has become a spokesman for mental health awareness, and auctioned off his NBA championship ring to pay for school psychiatry.

On Valentine’s day, Dwight Howard launched the D12 Foundation, whose stated goal is “to work with children’s organizations in establishing programs that will plant seeds of generosity, encourage education, support leadership, and inspire activity and health in the youth it reaches.”

Korver launched the Kyle Korver foundation, which reaches out to underprivileged youth in Philadelphia, Omaha, Salt Lake City, and Chicago.

Marcus Camby has been heavily involved with many charitable organizations throughout his 14-year NBA career.